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Showing content with the highest reputation since 03/03/2025 in Posts

  1. Good news for Desnudo/MOFOH/Bond Roberts lovers. N8 Churchill, N2 Piramides will be back in stock in a few weeks. New Sovereign Suns Half Corona (44x4) will be available at the same time. Bond Roberts 109 and Petit 109 50’s ship in a few weeks. Big News. We have moved to our own Fabrica 5 operation to a small boutique Danli factory . We have worked with our core team there on and off for 2 years. Hamlet will oversee all aspects of our Fabrica 5 faciltiy. The reasoning behind the move to the new fabrica was to gain full control over all aspects of what we do. We will continue in the future to collaborate with Oscar Valladares on special projects but my/our heart is in a “boutique” sole purpose operation. We are growing at a breakneck (insert “alarming”) pace and we needed to sow the seeds for 2027/28 and beyond. I love Oscar and his best wishes for success go with us. He gave us our start in Honduras and it is something that I will never forget. Our current quality is very good. I want it to be great across all of our brands. Our blending is superb but I want it to go to the next level where we push the boundaries. There will be new sizes, new blends, maduro’s, and with the assistance of design guru Angel Miranda, interesting and functional packaging on our BR products as we move deeper into International and domestic US markets. We are not Habanos, Padron, Arturo Fuente, Pepin. They all make excellent cigars and so will we as we continue to carve out our own niche. We can only continue to do this with your assistance and support. I know we have it. Light up a cigar, pour a drink and continue to join us on this wild ride. I will post some photos from Fabrica 5 in the coming days as they are sent from Hamlet. Loving the sorting of those large gorgeous Jamastran leaves
    38 points
  2. You have all been there before I am sure. The perfect weekend away planned .......and then God has a cackle Background. For my 60th, my two sons arranged a 2 day fishing trip 4 1/2 hours drive away in country Queensland at Lake Monduran which is a legendary big Barramundi fishing locale. This is what a big Barramundi looks like at Lake Monduran. No....this isn't us. Lake Monduran is a trek to the middle of nowhere and a 34 square mile water monolith filled with woody hiding spots for this brilliant sportsfish. We thought it would be a good idea to tow the boat up. Myself and the two sons (Ben and Tom) have equal shares in the boat and looked forward to taking the boat out in this mythical big fish lake. Still, I know my stuff and decided to hire one of two professional guides on this massive expanse of water. We were to do two sessions with "Jake" ....one on the Friday evening and one on Saturday morning /half day. Ben had it worked out. 4 1/2 hour road trip, leave 8am, lunch at a country pup in the town of Gin Gin (population a couple of 100) 20 minutes out from lake Monduran, check in at 2pm to the three bedroom lake house and meet Jake at 4PM for the evening fish. As a dad, I took it upon myself to take up copious beers, rum, whiskey, tomahawk steaks, sausages, eggs, bread rolls and 4 loose leaves of salad (for dressing). What could go wrong? 90 minutes from our destination, both tyres on our boat trailer blew on the highway. Yep...the other one was much the same. Ben was driving and he safely pulled over off the highway but we were in a pickle. One spare, two tyres down, nearest town (Maryborough) 30 minutes away and not much chance of finding the exact wheels for our trailer at nearing 12:30Pm on a Friday. We put a plan in action. Decouple the boat/trailer on the side of the road and the lads scoot off to Maryborough to do their best. I stayed with the boat. One wheel/was eventually found in Maryborough. Another eventually found in the town of Childers a further 30 minutes away. I had a litre of water and a cigar while I waited. It was around 33 degrees Celsius, humid and on a freeway. We eventually got it sorted 3 1/2 hours later and were back on our way. I had a nice little case of heat stroke and a splitting headache. We rolled into Monduran at near 6PM. I had travelled to Hong Kong quicker the week prior. Jake was waiting for us on the boat ramp and I told the boys to go and fish without me. I needed a beer, a rum a cigar and some down time. They dashed out.....to the wrong boat ramp... but eventually caught up with the ever patient Jake. Jake runs a professional bass boat imported from the USA. More screens that the space shuttle with a livescope set up on the front. I haven't witnessed a livescope in action before but essentially for the non fisherman out there, you find the fish, you cast to the fish and you see everything in glorious real life as you bounce the lure off the fishes head. The fish were timid. Ben landed a nice one and Tom dropped a 1.2 metre Barramundi next to the boat. he didn't quite tie his knot correctly. Devastated to say the least but all was looking promising for the morning session with Jake. The lads arrived back to the house at midnight and fishing was scheduled again for 4:30am. This was Ben's night time catch. One day he will look at his first child like this. We hit the water early. it was going to be a Barramundi slaughter. 8 hours on the water. Travelled maybe 40 km. Livescope was working brilliantly. We were bouncing lures off the head of giant fish. It was hot as Hades but we were pumped. Fish Tally: 0 Jake our guide was devastated but told us that if they were not biting in the am they would be biting late afternoon early evening as the "Barra" needed to feed. He instructed us to take our boat out at 4Pm and fish through to 9pm. The "bite window' was 6Pm to 9PM. he sent through some fishing marks on the other side of the lake where we would no doubt be in Barramundi heaven. We jumped in the boat at and travelled across this mammoth tree filled lake at 4:30Pm and gunned it for 45 minutes before flicking our lures in great anticipation of the "bite window". Nada. Zilch. It was getting dark and so we made a plan to head back in this unfamiliar water moonscape to a place closer to the home. Made sense as there was no moon and becoming darker and darker as the minutes flew by. Our boat light went out. Let me cut this short. it took us near 4 hours to head back at 5 knots as we could only see a few metres ahead us at a time. I couldn't take a photo as it was too dark. It started to rain. Back at the house on midnight, we were mentally and physically knackered. We decided on a relatively early departure and hit the local Gin Gin bakery for a few of their famous meat pies. Ben talked up this bakery over the weekend no end. I don't eat meat pies as a rule but after this weekend from hell I was going to indulge. A good feed and then 4 1/2 hours drive home. Unfortunately we hit traffic coming into Brisbane so 5 1/2 hours. No problem, the pies would make up for it. The bakery was closed. .....it was a great "bonding" weekend
    35 points
  3. 80’s Davidoff Château Margaux The cigar it’s self is a marvel to be held in your hand, light but balanced. As you look at the foot you can tell that the cigar was rolled using the entubado method. The 1st third starts with woodiness but also creaminess, quickly opening into milk chocolate. The 2nd third is heading towards champagne flavors floral and nutty notes, apple, pear and peach rich in aromas and complexity. The 3rd third is now showing its depth with sweet earthiness and truffle flavors, while still sweet cream! Smoking this cigar was like sitting in a dream state, with clouds of sweet rich smoke swirling around my head, almost like a state of euphoria. From the second I picked up this cigar and ran it under my nose, I knew I was in for a long lasting memory. This cigar was almost perfect, I would have to say in my personal rating scale Heavenly. In the 100 pt scale I would say a solid 98
    34 points
  4. Sunday nights cigars 84' Upmann Aromaticos Gingerbread, Toasted marshmallow, Burnt brown sugar 19' (MSU) H.Upmann Mag 46 Burnt Brown Sugar, Black Licorice, Cinnamon Cake Blah Ok Good Tasty Heavenly
    33 points
  5. A friend of mine just got back from the festival. Brought back some stuff from the festival, and from the EL factory. Behike 58 Behike 59 Party favors.
    33 points
  6. Siglo VIs @ the top of Toronto These are as good as it gets.
    32 points
  7. First time tasting the HDM E3 I'm not sure if I got lucky, but this one was awesome. Thinking about going deep.
    32 points
  8. Delicious Sunday treat
    32 points
  9. San Cristóbal de la Habana Prado (RAT SEP 21).
    32 points
  10. Trinidad Robustos Extra 09 E2 SOU FEB 22
    31 points
  11. Wednesday nights cigars 96' Punch Churchill Tubos Molasses, Prunes, Cocoa 07'Cohiba Genios (OR) Mexican chocolate, Black Licorice, Black Tea Blah Ok Good Tasty Heavenly
    31 points
  12. Just received this gorgeous box.
    30 points
  13. Punch Double Coronas - LOM Jun 2012
    30 points
  14. Not a purchase but came back home from a herf with good friends last night with these beauties : Bolivar Coronas Extra Bolivar Coronas Gigantes SLR Lonsdale SLR Churchill Punch Royal Selection N°11 I have some very good friends 🤩🤩
    30 points
  15. H. Upmann Petit Robustos - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019
    30 points
  16. Hoyo EE. If anyone else plays darts? It would be great to have a game and a cigar on DartCounter.
    30 points
  17. My Lord, it’s Foxy's birthday too today. Bound to be messy... Happy birthday! Happy St. Patrick's day! M4 ftw. Miracle managed to post a pic today!
    30 points
  18. Morning Sir Winston RUM SEP 19 with coffee and golf - wonderful.
    30 points
  19. Partagás Petit Robustos - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019
    30 points
  20. CoRo & Piña Colada at da beach. @ Varadero, Cuba (best beach I've seen on this side of the world)
    30 points
  21. Cohiba Especiales. Stroll in the park @ Parque de Trillo.
    30 points
  22. I am sure you all know the feeling. Di and I only spent 4 nights in Hong Kong but it felt like 2 weeks ......in a good way 🙄 Ostensibly, we were there for a private showing of Ravi's new lounge "COH House". Fuzz, Jason, Marco and Greg had a long lunch on the Wednesday at Gaia (Italian and cigar friendly) before retiring to the lounge for a quiet drink and cigar Wednesday afternoon. This was to be a precursor for the big distributor/influencer party on Friday evening. I recall there was only 8 of us that Wednesday afternoon and my first look at the retail store and lounge was mind blowing. Store Marco, Fuzz, myself. I doubt there is a better stocked Habanos and New world store in the world today. Manager Tas Di had an awful time Now the lounge is next level Light, airy and with a ventilation system that is world class. Now the lounge won't officially open until late April. The store is open now and while I was there it was well visited by people from all over the world. Post this private showing, Di and I headed to Marco's new lounge/store in Kowloon that I loved. This store made me feel right at home and reminded me very much of "The Deck" back home. Intimate, well stocked and rocking. The PCC store at the Mandarin Oriental in Central is very similar is scale but this is much closer to my sort of vibe. Loved it! Post cigar and a few fine rums...off to a stunning little Japanese. Post dinner we headed back to my favourite Dive bar "WTF" for further drinks and cigars. Eddie and Nick always look after us there...and they were in "high" spirits Thursday was a long lunch with the Drew Estate International crew at Madam Fu's before retiring back to Ravi's lounge and then the LCDH central to catch up with Aaron (SUP8333) and Kurt (Chuck08) for some drinks and further cigars. Kurt had to head home but hell, Ravi was hell bent on a feed at "Crab under the Bridge". Aaron, Ravi, Marco, Jason, Di, Me, Fuzz. It was a long long night. Friday I had meetings most of the day. I had to satisfy the Taxation Office somehow that this week was all work related The Friday night function at the COH lounge was spectacular and full of beautiful people from across Hong Kong and mainland China. The Drew Estate International crew were all there and they were an absolute hoot...no one more than the irrepressible Jonathan Drew. He delivered one of the most interesting one hour speeches I have ever heard. It was riveting and he had me in hysterics. He has now made my dream "ultimate industry long lunch table" The cigar scene in Hong Kong is rocking. New cigar stores and lounges appear to open every month. They are equally patronised by locals and mainland buyers alike. Hong Kong has had a slow recovery since Covid but it is recovering albeit some industry sectors and locations are doing far better than others. Cigars, Cuban and Non-Cuban roll on. FOH HK tour 2026 has found a few new welcoming homes If Fuzz/Chris/Di/ any attendees have any more photos of the 4 days...post them up.
    29 points
  23. This box came yesterday and I opened it up and it was just stunning, heart stopping almost. I stood by the humidor just staring at these wonderful cigars and a sort of panic came over me. HOW, am I going to smoke these and not just put them in the collection, back to sleep? They are just too perfect. Then, a thought washed over me. Made the hair stand up on my neck. WHY have I been hoarding all these years? WHAT am I doing! WHY, am I not smoking them, enjoying them? What’s holding me back? My life is likely more than 1/2 over and I love to smoke great cigars. I decided then and there- I am going to wear the watches I’ve put up, smoke my cigars, and enjoy all the things I’ve worked so hard for over the past 20 years. It’s incredible how this box of LUB OCT 2014 Upmann 2 (PSP), shifted my mindset. I am thrilled it did. he generous BOTL I acquired these from said to me— “you deserve these” and he couldn’t have been more right. *As a side note, I had been listening to @LizardGizmo and friends on an episode with a Connie A from LUB 2015… what a revelation. What a truly great run from Upmann factory. I am thrilled to have these and intend to share some with my close friends and smoke EVERY single one! No flash - wow! With flash WOW, and the smell-sublime!
    29 points
  24. 29 points
  25. Saint Luis Rey Regios (RBS NOV 23).
    29 points
  26. Sunday’s selection
    29 points
  27. EOT Sep 2015 Cohiba Siglo IV...
    29 points
  28. Been wandering this orb for half a century so I figured, no better time to smoke this one. Cohiba Behike 54 (MES DIC11).
    29 points
  29. Treated myself to a little birthday gift.
    29 points
  30. PSD4 on vacation in Punta Mita
    29 points
  31. Lunch smoke. Ramón Allones 8-9-8 Cigar (Ex. Alemania 2014). Los Mercaderes As good as it gets in Havana.
    29 points
  32. El Rey del Mundo Choix Suprême - MOE Oct 2014
    29 points
  33. ROE JUL 2017 HDC when I got these from Prez for 285 bucks a box [emoji17] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    28 points
  34. Siglo VI SOM NOV 16 BSE MAY 23 Courtesy of @raggie
    28 points
  35. Fundadores OUR FEB 08 Topes EL ROM SEP 16
    28 points
  36. 28 points
  37. Allones at its best but for the age old debate - I lean towards the Superiores.
    28 points
  38. RyJ Short Churchill Viva Cuba Libre?
    28 points
  39. My birthday cigars. 2015 Esplendido. And a Siglo VI
    28 points
  40. A D4 SOU JUN 2020. Tasty. PLMC LGR OCT 2019. Best bang for your buck IMO. A Queen Corona. Not a bad smoke to be NC.
    28 points
  41. Cohiba Petit Robustos - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019
    28 points

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